I am in the same boat as you. I have been very disappointed with the Exmark Metro 26" and have expressed this disatisfaction to Exmark personally. Basically the unit has had a lot of annoying quircks and now the bagging system is not working. Thus, I have a unit that can't bag, mulch or side discharge. Exmark asked me to be patient and that the mulch kit and newly designed bag would be soon to arrive. It has been 2 weeks and nothing has come yet. With the growing season close to half over in our neck of the woods, I am growing increasingly frustrated. Sorry to vent...will post if and when that kit and new bag design appear.

I got tired of wating for the Metro 26 at my dealer so I ended up buying the Ferris hydrocut 32". I haven't found a gate I can't go through yet and all I've been doing is mulching. Sure am glad I didn't wait fo the Metro. The only thing with the Ferris is that I wish it had dual hydros but once I got the hang of it I can get by with the single hydro.

i haven't heard anything on the mulch kits for my 26 but i did find that you can side discharge using the plastic side discharge chute or elbow off of a honda commercial 21'' mower. just hang it on the right side bracket used to hold the bag on and close the door. the spring pressure has been enough to hold it on although im sure it could be made more secure with a little modification

The fire at Exmark Manufacturing, 2101 Ashland Ave., caused an undetermined amount of damage but was contained to the oven where it began, according to Beatrice Fire and Rescue Capt. Arlyn Ullsperger.

The oven, described as about the size of a small house, was being used to cure large drums of paint so the paint could be taken to a landfill, Ullsperger said. The paint got too hot and ignited, he said.

When fire crews arrived at about 4:05 p.m., water from the plant's sprinkler system was boiling off of the oven. He said the fire wasn't difficult to put out once they figured out how to get into the oven, but the heat was extreme.